Abstract
To evaluate the possibility of utilizing polysaccharide-based biomaterial recovered from aerobic granular sludge as a coating material, the morphology, molecular weight distribution and chemical composition of the recovered biomaterial were investigated by atomic force microscopy, size exclusion chromatography and pyrolysis–GC–MS to have a better understanding of the properties of the biomaterial. The biomaterial recovered from aerobic granular sludge demonstrates chain-like structure. The molecular weight of 1/3 of the biomaterial is higher than 70kDa. It is amphiphilic due to containing polysaccharides as a major fraction and lipids as a minor fraction. The biomaterial easily forms a film on a hydrophilic surface (e.g. paper), and functions as a water resistant barrier. Biomaterial recovery from waste aerobic granular sludge in biological wastewater treatment process provides a new resource of sustainable materials.
Highlights
Biological wastewater treatment involves converting dissolved and suspended organic contaminants in water into biomass and evolved gases (CO2, CH4, N2 and SO2) [1]
The resultant extracellular biomaterials which form into structural gels make granular sludge distinguished from conventional floccular sludge
The polysaccharide-based biomaterial recovered from aerobic granular sludge is amphiphilic
Summary
Biological wastewater treatment involves converting dissolved and suspended organic contaminants in water into biomass (sludge) and evolved gases (CO2, CH4, N2 and SO2) [1]. Sludge granulation emerged in the last decade for a wide range of biological wastewater treatment processes. This biotechnology is to force microorganisms to form granular sludge rather than floccular sludge (Fig. 1). The compact granular form provides better settling property, more effective sludge-effluent separation and higher biomass retention. These advantages allow running a wastewater treatment plant with 30% less energy input, and require 75% less space combined with significant lower investment costs [2]. The resultant extracellular biomaterials which form into structural gels make granular sludge distinguished from conventional floccular sludge
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